Combined junction cap and running-board saddle for car roofs



Sept.-f9, 1930. D. w. HAWKSWORTH 1,775,524

F COIBINED JUNCTION CAP AND RUNNING BOARD SADDLE FOR CAR ROOF'S File'd April 25. 1828 2 Shuts-Sheet 1 Sept. 9,1930. D; w. HAWKSWORTH 5,

COMBINED JUNCTION CAP AND RUNNING BOARD SADDLE FOR CAR ROOFS Filed April 23, 1928 Shoots-Sheet 2 amounted,

k712i 7/ fla wlsurartl Patented Sept. 9, I930 DAVID w." I-IAWKSWOR'IH, or. DETROIT, mio'riienn, AssIGNom Bi AssIen- MENTS, TO nn'rcnms CAR noorme COMPANY, orlnn'rnorr, MronIeAN, ACQR- PORATION OF DELAWARE COMBINED JUNCTION CA1 AND nnnivme-nonn n senptn roii cAR noo'rs Application filed April 23,

The invention relates to car roofs of the flexible type in which independently movable roofing sheets are connected by weather proofing caps. It is usual to provide tran verse caps which extend between adjacent sheets from ridge to eaves, ridge caps con? necting adjacent sheets at the ridge and junction caps which connect the ridge caps and Figure 1 isa plan view.

Figure 2 is a side elevation.

Figure 3 1s a perspectlve view looking in the direction of the arrows of line 3-3 in Figure 2.

Figures 4, 5, and 6 are similar views showing a modified construction. V

Figure 7 is a cross section through a portion of the junction cap showing the con- 3 tour of the outer surface.

As has been stated, the primary objectof my improved construction is to form the same from sheet metal without injury to the plated or coated surface thereof. In order to accomplish this it is necessary to avoid unduly drawing or stretching the metal at any one point. At the same time it is essential to so form the junction cap as to be thoroughly weather-proof and the saddle as to provide adequate support for the running boards.

In the constructions shown in Figures 1 to 3 A is the junction cap which is formed with portions B, B for embracingthe ridge caps and portions C and Cf for embracing the transverse caps. The formation of these portions 13, B, C, C from a flat sheet metal. blank results in the formation ofdepressed corner portions D which lie adjacent to the plane of the roof and which merge into the The construction is such that no one portion of the sheet metal blank is drawn to a degree The saddle F is of an upturned cliannel form with laterally extending flanges G, G

at itsupper edge; Thedepth of the channel portion H varies from the center or ridge towards the opposite ends so thatthebottom of the channel lies adjacent to the junction cap while theflanges arearrangedin a horizontal plane. from a sheet metalblank originallyof substantiallyrectangular' form and therefore the flanges GQG' are widest at the center and taper toward theopposite ends. To avoid unduly stretching the metal. and at the same time to secure"propeflwidth of the saddle, the channel portion is cut away at opposite ends as indicated at I but a sufficient amount of-the sides of the. channel is left to give an angle cross section to the projecting portions of the saddle. The flanges G, G sare pro vided with .a series of apertures J for engagementofvthe boltsthat attach theFrunning boards. I

Q The saddle: and junction caps are secured to each other centrally by abolt Kwhich also: forms a means for securing the combined that will destroy o injure the surface coat- This structure is struck up 7 structure to thezroof frame. The parts are furthersecured by rivets Lat the opposite ends and to povide good bearings andfjc'learance,,for the rivet heads adjacent to the severalpoints of attachment the junction cap A preferably has upwardly: embossed portions M and N as shown in Figures 1 and :2. Thus, immediatelysurrounding the boltiK andrivets L is a limited contact area which makes a tight joint and avoids the trapping of water which might cause corrosion. in the joint. To facilitate assemblythesaddle and cap are also formed with v inter-engaging struck outvpqrtlonszo and]? .WlllGlLlDSllI'G proper. alignment whenthe boltK is attached.

This bolt is also preferably secured by shear ingwantannular portion; of the shank inside of thecap, and? upsetting the sameto form an, inner, rivet head K thereby 'avoiding injury to the (plated or otherwise rust: proofed outer surface of the exposed head. By aligning the cap and saddle with the inter-engaging portions 0 and P the punching of the holes for the rivets L may be performed after assembly thereby insuring accurate alignment.

The construct-ion shown in Figures 4, 5, and 6 is substantially similar to that shown in Figures 1 to 3 with the exception that it is adapted for engagement with a wide ridge cap and to insure a weather-proof joint the junction cap is arched upward intermediate the edge portions thereof as shown at Q in Figure 7. Thus the edge portions R will be clamped against the ridge caps and will form a weather-proof joint.

With both of the specific constructions above described as well as any other modifications that may be made,-an essential feature is the avoidance of the drawing of the metal blank to an extent that will insure its plated surface. Another feature common to both constructions is that the saddle has its points of support on the cap not far removed from its outer ends and as the cap also has points of bearing at its outer ends upon the roof frame this affords stable support for the running board.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a car roof a combined weather proofing cap and running board saddle comprising an integral pressed sheet metal cap memher for embracing the ridge and transverse caps and a pressed sheet metal saddle of upturned channel cross section with laterally extending flanges, said saddle being supported on said cap at the center and the opposite ends thereof and forming therewith a rigid structure.

2. A combined junction cap and saddle comprising an integral cap member for embracing the ridge and transverse caps having depressed corner portions and a saddle of upturned channel cross section withlaterally extending flanges, said saddle having bearings upon the center and opposite end portions of said cap, a bolt for securing said saddle and cap together and bothto the frame and interengaging portions at the end of the saddle and cap for holding said members in alignment and forming thereof a rigid structure.

3. A combined junction cap and saddle comprising a cap member having portions embracing the ridge and transverse caps and depressed corner portions together with up wardly embossed portions at the center and at opposite ends, a saddle of upwardly opening channel cross section with laterally extending flanges at its upper edge said channel being of transversely greater depth from the center toward the opposite ends and bearing upon said upwardly embossed;- portions, a bolt for securing said saddle and cap to gether at the center and both to the roof 

